if I wasent there I wouldnot believe it

casperdog2 · Unread post by **casperdog2** » 29 Sep 2009, 22:12

I was working on the frount of my car 97 xantia, I reached up and put the bar I was using onto the top beside the rad, when I got up the bar had took a dive through the pipework and put a hole into the back of the alternator, only 1/4 inch dia, but the alt has stopped charging, What I want to know is can I get the plastic cover plate off the alt and have a look and maybe repair or is it belt off time. Im sure Ive read something like that on the forum somewhere.

Xantidote · Unread post by **Xantidote** » 29 Sep 2009, 23:56

I bet you couldn't make a hole in the alternator if you tried - sod's law.

I recently took the plastic end off and old alternator which had been on an old Xantia, but it may originally have come off another vehicle, as I suspect it was manufactured 1993, & only rated 70 amps.

With alternator on bench, it was still a struggle to remove the plastic cover, because there was a lot of sealant (silicon rubber, sort of) on the various inner electrical bits under the cover, perhaps a waterproofing protection, and this black material had spread into the openings in the plastic cover, necessitating great care paring and pulling it away. Once gunge removed, cover came off easily (3 small 8mm nuts?).

Maybe the bar disturbed the brushes? What happened to the 1/4" dia plastic? Could it be in the alternator?

Are you going to be able to see much whilst alternator in car? Worth trying as first attempt, or is it buried under air con pump? With my eyesight, I'd probably end up going for removal

Cheers - Martin